2021 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe: the lowdown on Adayar, Hurricane Lane and more

3.05 Sunday: Longchamp
Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Group 1) | 1m4f | 3yo+ | ITV/Sky

Godolphin mean business with Classic super duo Adayar and Hurricane Lane

Impassioned cries of 'allez les bleus' are commonplace in Paris and they are likely to be yelled with as much fervour at Longchamp as they would be when the French national teams play, because this year Godolphin mean business in the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

In Derby winner Adayar and dual Classic star Hurricane Lane, Godolphin make their strongest assault on Europe's biggest race for nearly two decades in a bid to add a crowning achievement to a season that has heralded a return of the operation to superpower status.

Hurricane Lane takes over as Arc favourite as rain turns Longchamp holding

Trainer Charlie Appleby, who supplies both Godolphin runners, has spearheaded the rise of Sheikh Mohammed's behemoth back to the top of the world, delivering 11 Group/Grade 1s this year before the start of the weekend, and standing within touching distance himself of claiming a maiden British trainers' title and a first for a Godolphin trainer since 2004.

Leading the charge in the world's biggest races is where those associated with Godolphin feel it should be, with the back-to-back victories for Sakhee, bred and initially raced by the late Hamdan Al Maktoum, and Marienbard in 2001-02 ready to be added to on Sunday afternoon.

Adayar, who has been vying with Tarnawa for favouritism all week, is the chosen one for Appleby's first-choice rider William Buick, but he will need to overcome a less than helpful draw in stall 11.

Yet, the prospect of soft ground and a wide draw for Adayar have not created any concern for Appleby, as his three-year-old seeks to emulate the likes of Sea The Stars, Workforce and Golden Horn in winning the Arc in the same year as the Derby.

"Adayar showed as a two-year-old he likes soft ground," Appleby said. "In the King George he showed his class, as the ground was plenty quick enough that day. We are certainly happier being on soft rather than quick ground going into an Arc. With his draw, it will come down to what the pace is on the day.

Adayar: seeking to emulate the likes of Sea The Stars and WorkforceCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

"Adayar has not missed a beat since the minor setback [before Arc trials day] and I couldn't be happier with his wellbeing."

With Buick riding Adayar, James Doyle takes the mount on Hurricane Lane as the rider seeks to go one better than when an agonising second on Sea Of Class in the 2018 Arc behind Enable.

"It can't have been an easy decision for Will, there's not too much between the two," Doyle said. "He's proven on soft ground and the trip's fine, back to a mile and a half should be perfect. He's won the Grand Prix de Paris round there, so he's had a good look at the place before."

Hurricane Lane: will be suited by soft ground and a stamina testCredit: Edward Whitaker

Appleby is in agreement with Doyle about softer ground benefiting Hurricane Lane, with his stamina proven after winning the St Leger last month, though no Leger winner has gone on to Arc glory in the same season.

"We know the soft ground is going to suit Hurricane Lane," Appleby said. "But as a bonus, we know if it becomes a stamina-sapping Arc, he has already proven he has stamina in abundance.

"It's a double positive for him and I'm very pleased the way he has come out of the St Leger. He's had a busy season, so it has been a simple prep to have him ready for the Arc."

He added: "William and James know the horses well. They know their strengths. When the gates open, they will know where they should be placing their horses."
Peter Scargill, reporter

Adayar v Hurricane Lane: our team on who is the better Arc candidate

Superstar mare Tarnawa out to crown a glorious half-century for Dermot Weld

He has won 26 European Classics, conquered the Melbourne Cup twice, the Hong Kong Mile, the Secretariat and Belmont Stakes, but the Arc still eludes one of the greatest trainers Ireland has ever produced. Could Tarnawa be the one to crown the stellar 49-year training career of Dermot Weld?

This is unquestionably his best ever chance of landing Europe's biggest prize.

Tarnawa is vying for favouritism with Adayar and few could argue with her position at the top of the market. This has been the ultimate aim for the five-year-old daughter of Shamardal who was purposely held back for an autumn campaign.

Tarnawa (near) swoops late under Christophe Soumillon to land the Prix de l'OperaCredit: Edward Whitaker

Last year's Prix de l'Opera winner has since proven herself to be every bit as good as the boys on the biggest stages of all.

A stunning late surge saw her land the Breeders' Cup Turf at Keeneland in November. It was not any old Breeders' Cup Turf either, it was one that contained the seven-time Group 1 winner Magical as well as Lord North and Mogul. She came widest of all, late and fast, and won a shade snugly at the line under Colin Keane.

Her first start at five was as straightforward as her starting price suggested when she won the Ballyroan Stakes at Leopardstown by six and a half lengths.

Tarnawa (left): last seen finishing second to St Mark's Basilica (purple) in the Irish Champion StakesCredit: Caroline Norris (racingpost.com/photos)

We presumed she would defend her Prix Vermeille crown after that but Weld thought otherwise. Tarnawa was back over 1m2f for the Irish Champion Stakes, a bold move by a trainer who is never afraid to shirk a challenge. She was beaten but, if anything, in getting within three quarters of a length of the recently retired St Mark's Basilica she enhanced her reputation.

Over a trip short of her best, on ground that was faster than she would like, she was just denied having been carried across the track by the wayward winner.

Weld rues tactics as St Mark's survives inquiry and Tarnawa challenge

This is her date with destiny.

Weld said of Tarnawa: "She's a tough, very genuine and consistent filly and her preparation has gone very well. She takes her training well and it's been straightforward since Leopardstown. We've just kept her ticking over. She's a fit filly.

"It's an above-average Arc and I'm well aware of the strength of the three-year-olds as well as the Japanese filly [Chrono Genesis] who will be as tough to beat as any."

What would it mean to Weld to win Europe's most prestigious prize? "It would be absolutely wonderful for everybody involved with the horse," he replied.

Harzand, the horse who Weld said gave him his greatest day in racing when landing the Derby at Epsom under Pat Smullen, was the legendary trainer's last Arc runner. He finished ninth of 16 behind Found in 2016. Free Eagle was sixth to Golden Horn in 2015 having met trouble in running.

Given she won the Prix de l'Opera on what was officially heavy ground at this fixture last year and has a pair of Group 3 wins on yielding to soft ground, the forecast rain shouldn't inconvenience Tarnawa, who seems able to adapt to whatever underfoot conditions greet her.

Christophe Soumillon, the Aga Khan's retained rider in France, takes over from Colin Keane who has been on board for her last three starts.

Soumillon has a 100 per cent record on Tarnawa having been on board for both her French wins last autumn in the Prix Vermeille and Prix de l'Opera.
David Jennings, deputy Ireland editor

2021 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe tips: why this horse can win the big race

O'Brien upbeat as Snowfall attempts to emulate the mighty Enable

This year's stunning Oaks winner leads the Ballydoyle attack into battle as Aidan O'Brien tries to win the Arc for a third time.

Dylan Thomas broke his duck in 2007 before Found famously led home a 1-2-3 for O'Brien in 2016, and now Snowfall will try to follow in the footprints of the exceptional Enable who did the English-Irish-Yorkshire Oaks treble on the way to winning the first of her two Arcs in 2017.

Snowfall was favourite for the Arc after her Yorkshire Oaks romp in mid-August, but Tarnawa assumed that role after she suffered a shock defeat at the hands of Teona when 1-5 for the Prix Vermeille last month.

It was supposed to be a straightforward trial, but a stop-start gallop and quicker-than-ideal ground combined to dissolve Snowfall's air of invincibility. O'Brien was not dismayed by the defeat, though.

Snowfall: will be bidding to bounce back to Oaks-winning form on SundayCredit: Edward Whitaker

The trainer said of the record-breaking 16-length Oaks winner: "Sometimes it's better to be beaten when things go wrong than to win when everything goes right. It was a combination of things that got her beaten in the Vermeille. It wasn't a fast pace and it was quicker ground than she had been running on. It didn't really suit her. We were treating it as a trial for the Arc, but she still ran very well.

"We've been very happy with her since Longchamp and everything has gone well. She's a very smart filly and it was always the plan to supplement her. She stays very well."

On the ground, he added: "We were a little bit worried about the ground going to Epsom [for the Oaks] but she obviously handled it well. That's a plus for her. Hopefully the ground won't be too bad but it all depends on how much rain they're going to get."

O'Brien, who had to withdraw all his horses from one of the biggest weekends of the year 12 months ago due to a feed contamination issue, had already taken Love out of last season's Arc before that fiasco due to deteriorating ground conditions.

Love was again withdrawn late on Saturday, leaving the two-pronged Ballydoyle attack to be completed by the battle-hardened Broome.

Yutake Take takes the ride on the five-year-old son of Australia who won his first three starts of the campaign, before going down by a short head in the Group 1 Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh.

He missed the break in the King George and trailed in fourth of five behind Adayar, but was better in the Prix Foy last month when chasing home Deep Bond. That said, he would need a career-best performance to finish in the first three.

O'Brien said: "He's very genuine and stays very well; very uncomplicated. He's a solid, sound horse who ran very well in his prep."
David Jennings, deputy Ireland editor

'Snowfall should be bigger than 5-1' – Maddy and TC discuss the Arc

Can Chrono Genesis or Deep Bond finally put an end to Japan's heartbreak?

The youthful trainer of Chrono Genesis, Takashi Saito, made reference during the week to the "eternal debate" which surrounds Japan's challenges for the Arc down the years, repeated attempts that have famously failed to yield a victory.

The two crucial factors in a change in those fortunes have always seemed to me to send the right horse and in the right year – in one when Europe has no outstanding superstar in the mould of Treve or Enable.

While Orfevre in 2012 and 2013 is the most recent Japanese-trained horse to make the frame, it would be wrong to say that subsequent raids have been substandard.

'I hope she'll put up a huge performance' – Murphy thrilled with Chrono

In 2014 the brilliant finisher Harp Star might have gone close if not trapped seven horses wide, and although compatriot Just A Way failed to cut any ice the same year, he still ended the season at the top of the Longines world rankings. More recently Satono Diamond might have been a very different proposition in 2017 on good ground.

But there is no disguising the credentials of Chrono Genesis, a four-time Grade 1 winner in Japan who improved her international profile with a narrow defeat to Mishriff in the Dubai Sheema Classic.

She must overcome a 98-day absence – no Arc winner in the last 55 years has won off such a prep – but her connections have deliberately chosen not to run in a trial, while Oisin Murphy was delighted with how she felt in an easy piece of work on Wednesday.

Saito said: "She hasn't run since June but that doesn't concern me. In Japan she only runs once every two months so this is largely what she's used to. She needs time to recuperate between races and she's really well at the moment.

"Nor am I too worried about the ground. She will give her best whatever the conditions. I am very honoured that in France, Chrono Genesis is considered to be one of the favourites.

"But my job is simply to get the mare to the start at 100 per cent. If we win I will be very happy. I think she is capable of winning but in these kinds of races you need some luck."

Deep Bond has undergone a more conventional preparation, arriving in Chantilly in late August and then turning away the persistent attentions of Broome for an all-the-way win in the Prix Foy three weeks ago.

Much has been made of Deep Bond's stamina, given he was second in the Tenno Sho (Spring) over two miles, though it should be remembered that the mighty Deep Impact won the same race.

Deep Bond is by Kizuna, who was fourth in the 2013 ArcCredit: Scoop Dyga/France Galop

The son of Kizuna has yet to prove he is quite out of the top drawer over a mile and a half but if Mickael Barzalona can engage the same relentless rhythm he showed in the Foy, he looks likely to be suited by the demands of a soft-ground Arc.

"He did a similar piece of work on Wednesday to the gallop before the Prix Foy, starting off gently and then going through the gears," said trainer Ryuji Okubo. "He's really only had about two weeks' preparation time for the Arc since the Foy and it's rare in Japan to run twice over a mile and a half with just a three-week interval but everything has gone well.

"I think he's ready to run a good race just as he did in the Foy. I didn't know what to expect of him before the prep race but we were very pleased."

Okubo is also trying not to become preoccupied with the deepening ground, though his thoughts about Chrono Genesis are revealing.

"It's forecast to rain and I think Deep Bond will be able to adapt to that," he said. "The pace of the prep race really suited him whereas he doesn't usually make the running in Japan. We don't want to end up being marked by Chrono Genesis, who has a phenomenal turn of foot."
Scott Burton, France correspondent

Who will win the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe based on previous trends?

'She could beat the favourites' – Raabihah heads French resistance

It has been obvious since midsummer that the French challenge for the 100th running of Europe's biggest race would be down on numbers.

The sidelining of Prix Ganay winner Mare Australis, the injury induced retirement of In Swoop and the sale to Australia of Gold Trip almost guaranteed there would be a major hole in the senior ranks.

Raabihah flies the flag for the older generation and in many ways boasts a similar profile to her former stablemate Sottsass, winner of this race 12 months ago.

She too looks to build on an encouraging effort when fifth as a three-year-old, and her trainer Jean-Claude Rouget has seen extremely positive signs that she is running into form at just the right time.

Raabihah: fifth on very deep ground in last year's Arc

"Last week she worked really well with [Poule d'Essai des Pouliches winner] Coeursamba," said Rouget. "She isn't among the favourites, but she could end up beating the favourites because she is very fresh and well, whereas there will be horses in this field who will have had a very tiring season.

"More rain won't bother her as she ran well on very deep ground in last year's Arc. She was a bit far back, but was finishing fastest of all."

Raabihah has yet to win at Group 1 level and the question remains whether she has the same innate class as Sottsass, although Rouget's comments could not be more encouraging.

The fact that Raabihah is the shortest price of the four French-trained runners (best price 28-1) tells its own story.

Sealiway (40-1) leads the trio of three-year-olds who join Raabihah's attempt to keep the prize on French soil. The Cedric Rossi-trained son of Galiway was a deeply impressive winner of the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere on very deep ground 12 months ago, and bids overcome an unconventional preparation.

Sealiway and Mickael Barzalona in splendid isolation crossing the line in the LagardereCredit: Scoop Dyga/France Galop

Sealiway will be making his first start since finishing second to the brilliant St Mark's Basilica in the Prix du Jockey Club in June, while he would also be the first Arc winner since Saumarez in 1990 to have never previously tried a mile and a half.

"In the Jockey Club he ran all the way to the line," said co-owner Pauline Cheboub. "Even going back to the Jean-Luc Lagardere, the orders to Mickael Barzalona were to let him stride along how he was comfortable.

"There was a lot of pace on in the Jockey Club and that really suited him. That's the most important thing to him, whatever the trip. Once he gets in that rhythm he'll run to the ends of the earth for you."

Two more three-year-old colts punched their ticket when finishing first and second in last month's Prix Niel.

Bubble Gift (125-1) got the verdict by a nose that day and trainer Mikel Delzangles is in no doubt he has improved since.

Longchamp dark horses: four runners who could be overpriced

"While he was quite backward at two, I don't think he lacks experience for the task," said Delzangles. "He's run five times this year, which is par for the course.

"He's a handy horse in his races and doesn't pull, while he has a good change of gear and handles soft ground."

Delzangles added: "He's not too fast away so he'll be at a disadvantage if they don't go a good pace because he could find himself a little way back. That is not often the case in the Arc, though."

Baby Rider (200-1) hit the front with a fair turn of foot in the Niel before being gradually reeled in by Bubble Gift.

He will need to take another step forward for trainer Pascal Bary, who has saddled only seven runners in the Arc since Sulamani was narrowly beaten by Marienbard in 2002.

"He's getting better and better," said owner Jean-Louis Bouchard. "There are not many races for him and I love racing and racehorses so, if you have the chance to have a runner in the Arc, you take it.

"Measuring yourself against the creme de la creme is an exciting challenge."
Scott Burton, France correspondent

3.05 Longchamp Sunday: Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe racecard

What the rest say

Marcel Weiss, trainer of Torquator Tasso
We're very much looking forward to Sunday. He's rated the best horse in Germany. He's always been special since he was a two-year-old, he showed himself very early on and he's done it right through his racing life. He's always improving and we've been very pleased with his build-up. It's a very hot race, there are only 14 or 15 runners but they will all be hard to beat. It would be really great if we got a place. If he had a perfect race and a perfect run that is possible. German horses have won the Arc and run well in it. There is not much respect for them from the bookmakers – but I hope we can prove them wrong!

Richard Hannon, trainer of Mojo Star
He's had an easy time since the Leger and is in great form. He's done us proud all year and I'm very hopeful he can do the same on Sunday. It's going to be hard against two horses who have beaten him, but he's been rock-solid and I don't think coming back to a mile and a half on a flat track will bother him at all. We've never had a runner in the Arc before but we thought we'll give it a go. The owner is an ambitious guy and he's got the right horse to do it.

William Haggas, trainer of Alenquer
He's very well and ready to go. He'll enjoy the cut in the ground. The market suggests he's an outsider, but we don't think that's the case. It's a very exciting race.
Additional reporting by Scott Burton

Read more on the 2021 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe:

2021 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp: the runners, the odds, the verdict

Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe tips: expert 1-2-3 predictions for the big race

'A live each-way player' – three horses who will relish a soft-ground Arc

2021 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe: essential info for the big race at Longchamp

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